GM AbyssDancer's 'Ire of the Storm'

Game Master AbyssDancer

Welcome to the recruitment page for Ire of the Storm, a Pathfinder module set in the dark steaming jungles south of Sargava. The module takes a party from level 1 through to level 6 by the end - should you survive that far to see it…

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IRE OF THE STORM
Originally named ‘Pridon’s Grave’ by the local Song’o halfling tribes, the upstart town of Pridon’s Hearth is the newest colony of the nascent kingdom of Sargarva, pushing the country’s borders further than ever before into the damp and swampy jungles to the south. Answering a call from the local land-owner for a second wave of colonisation, the PCs begin aboard the Kaava Cutter, a merchant sloop heading for its regular monthly stop at Pridon’s Hearth. Drawn by tales of long-lost temples and the abandoned riches of long-dead heretical cults, the PCs are not the first treasure-hunters, fortune-seekers, or troubled souls hoping for a fresh start at this frontier town.

But dark threatening stormclouds are gathering beyond the horizon, for both the colonists and for the wider region. It is far from certain that this mixed group of heroes and chancers will survive to make their fortune, and in so doing shield the growing colony from raging tempests and hostile monsters. Dare they brave the Ire of the Storm?

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RECRUITMENT
I am looking for a party of 6. I already have 3 people I have played with before who have registered an interest, but there is a chance they may not deliver. So the purpose of this post is to identify 3+ PCs to start, plus a ‘reserve list’ to cover against drop-outs.

Ire of the Storm is a jungle exploration / dungeon crawl module. PCs aligned to nature and weather themes will fare well but are by no means necessary. Similarly, I’d prefer a balanced party, but I’ll prioritise people who I think will provide a high quality and reliability of posts. It’s so much more important to us having a great experience.

I will close recruitment no earlier than midnight GMT on Wednesday, and afterwards will inform successful applicants via PM.

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POSTING CONSIDERATIONS
When the module begins in earnest (not during the recruitment period) I intend to post at least once every 24 hours during the week and once during the weekend. Your timezone is unimportant, but you will be expected to match this frequency.

When you are going on a vacation, very busy, or otherwise unable to post just let me know and I will consider you on "standby" for the amount of time specified. If anyone disappears for 7 straight days without posting or leaving notice your character will be written out without hope of return or resurrection. This is extremely generous in terms of time span, so please don't let it get to that.

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CHARACTER CREATION
Classes: Core plus Unchained Rogue, and the following Base classes only: Inquisitor, Magus, Ninja, Oracle, Witch (no slumber). No others (don't ask!). Any Paizo archetype allowed.
Races: Core only, any Paizo variant racial traits allowed.
Starting Level: PCs will start at 1st level.
Alignment: Any non-evil. No direct PvP conflict.
Ability Scores: 20 point buy.
HP: Max HP at 1st level, average round up thereafter.
Traits: two traits allowed from separate types
Skills: Background skill variant used, 2 background skill ranks per level. See this link: Background skills.
Base Starting Money: As per core rules
Other: No firearms, no ‘unchained’ rules beyond UC Rogue.

Please, no posts asking ‘what about…?’ or ‘have you considered allowing…?’. These are the limits - please work within them.

When you create a submission, please create a character alias and include your character information in the form of a bestiary stat block similar to this profile: Example profile Also, please include the following information in your profile:

1) Appearance
2) Personality
3) Background

I am particularly interested in your character’s motivation for boarding the Kaava Cutter and traveling into the dangerous frontier lands to the south. The PCs’ backgrounds might be that of wanderers who pick up the local landowner’s invite in Sargarva, shady characters from the Shackles looking to gather information on this new colony town, or even crew members of the Kaava Cutter calling time on their life at sea. Your call !

Look, I'm not expecting an essay, just evidence that you've thought this through and have something we can all work with. I'll be judging people more on their history of gameplay postings than on oh-so-clever builds or novella-length backgrounds.

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I can’t wait to see your submissions, and to start this shared adventure together. Good luck - and whether you are successful or not, thank you for any time you commit to this thread !

GM Abyss Dancer

Sounds neat! Dotting for now.

How are you planning to handle maps? I do a lot of posting from my phone, so Google Slides is preferable, Google Draw is unideal, and Roll20 is unavailable to me.

Sounds neat! Dotting for now.

How are you planning to handle maps? I do a lot of posting from my phone, so Google Slides is preferable, Google Draw is unideal, and Roll20 is unavailable to me.

That's interesting. My intention was to do maps (and other images) on Google Draw with grid reference axes, read-only. I'd like Players to tell me where they're going (after reading other people's moves) and I'll control movement on the map. That way I feel I'll have better control over AOO etc. It'll also stop the map from moving every time someone with a phone messes with it...

But if that doesn't work for the players I'll be open to change.

Gotcha! Google Draw is perfect if it's going to be read only. I was concerned worth being able to move my own token on it, but it sounds like it's a non-issue.

I'm interested. I'll see if I can come up with an interesting concept.

dotting, I'm, one of the three who have played with GM AbyssDancer, I look forward to playing with you all.

Looking at melee or skilled, not sure which yet.

I am considering an Elven Magic Warrior Magus originally from the Mwangi Expanse that has left their world behind. He is now seen as odd by his own people as he is by those he meets from outside the Expanse and has yet to find anywhere to call home except the open road. His experience in the Expanse made an acquaintance refer him to the call of the land-owner from Pridon's Hearth.

Dotting for now - have a couple of concepts, though I realize now that I have never actually played a druid...

This is Redelia (Koani from The Confirmation). I'm dotting with the alias I plan to submit (unchained rogue, two weapon fighting). I've built the character, but it takes time to transfer everything into the forums. I'll post again when the submission is complete.

Ugh...I just spent 2 hours working up and formatting my character then hit "delete" instead of save...

I'll do it again tomorrow, but here are the basics, anyway.

dotting. Might throw a hideously insecure unchained rogue at this.

This sounds interesting. Having DM'ed the first couple of books from Serpent's Skull and loving the Mwangi plus being a history geek/professional IRL with a penchant for the age of discovery and age of sailing, this might be right up my alley.

Consider this my 'dotting' as I start throwing together an untalented writer desperate for a larger than life experience for some much needed inspiration.

He'll be a human bard or fighter and a devotee of Shelyn.

Dotting

Avogadro/Bahram here. I'm still tossing a few ideas around.

Top of the list is some kind of religious nut trying to bring 'civilisation' to the 'savages' not sure on mechanics though, I was looking at a living grimoir inquisitor but it's just not sparking...

...Top of the list is some kind of religious nut trying to bring 'civilisation' to the 'savages'...

Interesting. I refer you to the section of the intro above which refers to 'long-lost temples and the abandoned riches of long-dead heretical cults'. Anything there for you to hook onto?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Ugh...I just spent 2 hours working up and formatting my character then hit "delete" instead of save... I'll do it again tomorrow, but here are the basics, anyway.

It's happened before to us all. I'm grateful for the time you're putting in!

-Posted with Wayfinder

I am considering an Elven Magic Warrior Magus originally from the Mwangi Expanse that has left their world behind. He is now seen as odd by his own people as he is by those he meets from outside the Expanse and has yet to find anywhere to call home except the open road. His experience in the Expanse made an acquaintance refer him to the call of the land-owner from Pridon's Hearth.

Sounds interesting and relevant - I look forward to hearing more!

I wrote up a paladin of Shelyn. I will post his crunch and fluff in an hour or two :)

Hey GM AbyssDancer, since Redelia is going to submit an unchained rogue, two weapon fighting, I will go with a Barbarian (invulnerable rager). I don't know if I'm going with a human or a half-elf yet. As soon as I decide I will post my character crunch and start working on the fluff.

This is Kahwen from the other campaign, btw. My character concept is basically a Half-orc Tarzan who travels around with his "brother" a young carnivorous ape nAmes Francis.

I have the idea of a Cheliaxian Human ranged inquisitor (Sacred Huntsman) of Erastil, on the boat to travel to his uncle who has a small plantation in the south.

This is Redelia (Koani from The Confirmation). I'm dotting with the alias I plan to submit (unchained rogue, two weapon fighting). I've built the character, but it takes time to transfer everything into the forums. I'll post again when the submission is complete.

Hi Redelia

Can I please ask you to expand your skill modifiers for me. I like to see how they stack up, eg how you get to +8 Perception (presumably +2 WIS, +3 class skill, +1 rank, +2 ???).

Thanks!

Checking in. I plan on spending the day working on a character.

I present Jonath Gihl. A paladin of Shelyn and would-be writer, driven to the Mwangi by the ugliness of the old world. Here he stumbled upon a sad truth: man lives as he dreams, alone. In Cheliax, but also in the Mwangi. I tried to keep his background brief as requested, but I can expend upon whatever topic needs expending! I used the code for paladins of Shelyn as stipulated in 'Faiths of Purity' and the tl;dr of this man's drive is Shelyn's unrelenting rule that a man should never give in to smallmindedness.

Pretty much everything should be in his profile :)

I am pleased to introduce Jamba Mumbata. He is a native of the Mwangi Expanse, who was kidnapped and pressganged on a pirate ship as a child. He has spent twenty years on the seas and has been involved with several expeditions to the Expanse. He was able to free himself from pirating several years ago (with the help of his spiritual guide, Bobo) and would like to return to the expanse to seek out a career as a jungle guide. His secret desire is to use these expeditions to search out ancient artifacts and tomes to grow in power. He is a servant of Gozreh.

Character Portrait

Naima wrote:

This is Redelia (Koani from The Confirmation). I'm dotting with the alias I plan to submit (unchained rogue, two weapon fighting). I've built the character, but it takes time to transfer everything into the forums. I'll post again when the submission is complete.

Hi Redelia

Can I please ask you to expand your skill modifiers for me. I like to see how they stack up, eg how you get to +8 Perception (presumably +2 WIS, +3 class skill, +1 rank, +2 ???).

Thanks!

Alertness Feat +2

To help combat alias bloat, I will not be creating an alias unless actually selected. Info below however.

Elandra is a young Taldan woman, slightly too tall for polite society.

Being the 4th child of the Grand-Proconsul to the Executor of Zimaran River Defense, means Elandra is going to have to find her own way in life.

Tired of even the minor decadence her station allows Elandra has chosen to set off as far from civilization as possible and board the Kaava Cutter and head for Sargava

Yarrr, Pirate Rob here. I'm available to post multiple times most days. Elandra is a summoning/archer Inquisitor. I still need a good name for her mule and am open to suggestions.

Ok...after losing my edits a couple times, and with many nods of thanks to Edgar Rice Borroughs and Rudyard Kipling, I present Chest Thumper the Ape Orc and his "brother" Francis.

Raise in the wild by a band of apes, Chest Thumper has gotten a taste for civilization and wants more. He figures throwing in with a band of adventures is the best way to do that.

And, since I realized I posted under my Kahwen account when I announced I was Kahwen, for clarification purposes, this is Kahwen from the other campaign.

This is Aza! She's an Oracle who really wanted to be a Wizard when she grew up. She is heading to Mwangi to try and find purpose in life after a family tragedy, far away from her old life (plus maybe the stars'll look different out in the jungle).

This is her generic build, though if she does get chosen it's definitely subject to change a smidgen or two (leaning either more toward evocation or illusions).

Ok...after losing my edits a couple times, and with many nods of thanks to Edgar Rice Borroughs and Rudyard Kipling, I present Chest Thumper the Ape Orc and his "brother" Francis.

Raise in the wild by a band of apes, Chest Thumper has gotten a taste for civilization and wants more. He figures throwing in with a band of adventures is the best way to do that.

And, since I realized I posted under my Kahwen account when I announced I was Kahwen, for clarification purposes, this is Kahwen from the other campaign.

Kahwen, I'm surprised you didn't go with Feral Child, of course you would loose the benefits of being half-orc :-(

That definitely would have been a good choice but I like the idea of him being someone people would view as naturally primitive and bestial even without knowing his background.

I do actually think half-orcs could take that archetype since they do count as human :D (although I'm not sure if that's the reason you're talking about haha)

This still open

Here is my submission, Jit Wary!

Jit Wary's profile

She's a gnome sorcerer with the stormborn bloodline. She used to be a sailor (and sometimes pirate) until storms started following her around - now she's headed south to make money in the jungle instead!

Thanks so much for the interesting and creative suggestions so far! I really appreciate the time and thought you guys have put into this.

If I have any questions I'll get to them today, ahead of the Wednesday cutoff, then selection, and a rendezvous aboard the Kaave Cutter before the weekend.

To summarise, so far we have:

- Ebonfist: Chest Thumper, a halforc Druid
- Eminem80: Jamba Mumbara, a human (Mwangi) witch
- Isthill: Aza Barrett, a human (Taldori) Oracle
- MechaPoet: Jit Wary, a gnome sorcerer
- Pirate Rob: Elandra, a human (Taldani) Inquisitor
- Redelia: Naima, a human rogue
- Solicitor: Jonath Gihl, a human (Chelish) Paladin of Shelyn

We also have interest registered/ submissions to come from:

- DreamingWarforged: ???
- Helikan: inquisitor?
- Louxman: ???
- PaleKing: elven (Mwangi) Magus?
- RobertHenry: a Barbarian?

I hope I have not omitted anyone. Looking at this list, we have the makings of an interesting party!

Ok...after losing my edits a couple times, and with many nods of thanks to Edgar Rice Borroughs and Rudyard Kipling, I present Chest Thumper the Ape Orc and his "brother" Francis.

Raise in the wild by a band of apes, Chest Thumper has gotten a taste for civilization and wants more. He figures throwing in with a band of adventures is the best way to do that.

And, since I realized I posted under my Kahwen account when I announced I was Kahwen, for clarification purposes, this is Kahwen from the other campaign.

I very much like Chest Thumper. I have one question: is his astounding survival skill (11) understated by the absence of the +2 for self sufficient?

This is RH's barbarian, I've got the crunch done, and will have the fluff done this evening.

Basic idea: Iradyiel is a young adventurer, born to an elven father and a human mother. His father was enslaved from the Mwangi Expanse as a young warrior. He was freed by a Andoran pathfinder and became a pathfinder himself. Iradyiel grew up on stories of the Mwangi Expanse and Sargava. Joining the pathfinders himself, he decides to head to Sargava to see it's wonders first hand.

That's the rough Idea, I will flesh him and the backstory out a little more this evening.

I won't be presenting an application after all. Nothings coalesces nicely.

Chest Thumper wrote:

Ok...after losing my edits a couple times, and with many nods of thanks to Edgar Rice Borroughs and Rudyard Kipling, I present Chest Thumper the Ape Orc and his "brother" Francis.

Raise in the wild by a band of apes, Chest Thumper has gotten a taste for civilization and wants more. He figures throwing in with a band of adventures is the best way to do that.

And, since I realized I posted under my Kahwen account when I announced I was Kahwen, for clarification purposes, this is Kahwen from the other campaign.

I very much like Chest Thumper. I have one question: is his astounding survival skill (11) understated by the absence of the +2 for self sufficient?

Wow, it sure was. That means, if my math is correct, it should actually be a 13. Thanks for double checking! I went ahead and corrected my profile.

Seeing as you have no full BAB characters on your completed list this might be a good place to submit Dunganagar the Mad. He was originally made for an all-dwarf game that didn't get off the ground.

He is a dwarf barbarian with the Invulnerable Rager archetype. He has a large-sized dwarven waraxe though at first level he might use another weapon until he can get the waraxe enchanted.

He comes from a dwarven barbarian tribe that lives in the mountains near Janderhoff. Their territory includes a large area of barrow-graves belonging to ancient dwarven chieftains. Modern dwarves no longer use this land as a graveyard but the dwarves of his tribe consider them sacred and guard them fiercely. They also still bury their chiefs there. The dwarves of Janderhoff consider these barbarians crude and primitive but they are handy in a fight and often hire themselves out as mercenaries.

Adjusting that to get him to Sargava would be interesting. I am thinking that he got shanghaied in Korvosa by an uncrupulous ship captain, but he proved to be so unmanageable that he was thrown off the ship at Sargava. He is determined to return to Janderhoff, but refuses to take a voyage by ship over open sea ever again. So he wants to raise enough money to hire a wizard to "magic" him back home.

I still need to buy gear for him and assign skills, but mechanically he is pretty much done.

Seeing as you have no full BAB characters on your completed list this might be a good place to submit Dunganagar the Mad. He was originally made for an all-dwarf game that didn't get off the ground.

Hi Peet - thanks for posting here. I'm sorry but Dunganagar isn't going to make it. Three hours before your post someone already posted an Invulnerable Rager, and that player is one of the people I flagged as already on board.

You're welcome to submit another character, although looking at my last post, I think we already have enough to play...

AD

Only 56 hours remain for submissions...

I will take a look at remaining PCs later today.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Flipping paizo keeps kicking me out!

I'll have a character up in the next day... (I hope!)

[Edit]I'll check while I'm able to get through. I'm planning a melee inquisitor worshiper of Aroden (explained in fluff) I don't want to cramp with pirate Rob though, given that there shouldn't be too much cross over (still considering grimour archetype) would you consider two inquisitors?[/edit]

paizo.com access has been rough a bunch recently :(

I certainty wouldn't feel my toes were stepped on by a melee inquisitor of Aroden.

Naima wrote:

This is Redelia (Koani from The Confirmation). I'm dotting with the alias I plan to submit (unchained rogue, two weapon fighting). I've built the character, but it takes time to transfer everything into the forums. I'll post again when the submission is complete.

Hi Redelia

Can I please ask you to expand your skill modifiers for me. I like to see how they stack up, eg how you get to +8 Perception (presumably +2 WIS, +3 class skill, +1 rank, +2 ???).

Thanks!

I will certainly do this, as well as filling in the background. I meant to be much further on than I am with this character, but Paizo.com has been down a lot, and it seems I have bad timing of when to try to work on this.

In the course of prepping maps etc for this module, I came across the Turn Recap format for PBP, and I really like it. I think it addresses some of the biggest drawbacks of PBP, with few if any negatives (bar maybe a little more work for me!).

Please take a look at the 'Campaign' tab, where I have fleshed this out in more detail. I've also provided links to some great examples of other campaigns on the site which have adopted this.

I think following this for our game will accelerate play, encourage RP, and provide a far more clean summary and narrative flow to keep us all enthused! These are worthy objectives, given the high fail rate of PBP games.

I really hope this is something you too are happy with trying. Let me know what you think !

AD

I read through the explanation. I really like the system and I am looking forward to the opportunity to try it out. I love the RP aspect of the game and that system appears to encourage that. "Jamba be feelin' da blessin', mon."

I think it is a solid idea if you don't mind the extra work. It also gives the game a more 'chapter'ish feeling, turning the gameplay into an actual collaborative narrative.

Looks interesting enough. Looks like a lot of extra work on the GM side but I suppose its a lot of copy/paste.

I think that system looks pretty rad, definitely not something I've seen before but could def lead to a better experience.

I've never done it, but if you're alright with a little extra compilation work as a GM, I'd be willing to give it a shot if chosen. :)